Washington Nationals Complete Worst "First-Half" Since Move To DC, Lose 5-0 To Houston Astros.

Washington Nationals' "First-Half" Records:

2005 - 52-36, .591 WP

2006 - 38-52, .422 WP

2007 - 36-52, .409 WP

2008 - 36-60, .375 WP

2009 - 26-61, .299 WP

The Washington Nationals were shut out for the fourth time this season Sunday afternoon as the Houston Astros took the third game of the first-half-ending four game series with DC, 5-0. The Nationals get 11 hits, strand 13, commit their 82nd error and fail to support 23-year-old right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, who allows a three-run home run to Kaz Matsui in the seventh after holding the Astros to just 3 hits and 1 R, (unearned) in 6.0 IP. Zimmermann ends up throwing 102 pitches, 67 for strikes, walking 3 and K'ing 6. Astros' starter Brian Moehler, reliever Alberto Arias and closer Jose Valverde combine on the SO. Washington heads into the All-Star break 26-61... 

Astros win, 5-0 final. 

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching. 

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The Jump...

Nationals now 26-61.

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At Houston Astros. Game 87 of 162. 

Nyjer Morgan grounds to Kaz Matsui at second for the first out of the day. Michael Bourn twists in the wind waiting for Nick Johnson’s fly to center to come down. Bourn backs up and gets under Ryan Zimmerman’s flyout, and Astros’ starter Brian Moehler is through the top of the first...Alberto Gonzalez throws a bouncer by first when he rushes with Michael Bourn running out a sharp grounder. Bourn takes second. Miguel Tejada lines a single to center and Bourn scores from second for a 1-0 Astros’ lead. Lance Berkman walks. Carlos "El Caballo" Lee grounds to third, Zimmerman to Hernandez to Johnson at first, double play. Geoff Blum spins a soft liner to third to end the first. 

Adam Dunn takes a 3-2 fastball outside for a called strike three. Josh Willingham flies out to Hunter Pence in right. Alberto Gonzalez’s liner gets through short. Anderson Hernandez lines on one hop to second, Matsui makes the play...Hunter Pence thinks he walks on a 3-1 heater, but it’s a full count and he ends up K’ing. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez K’s swinging through a high fastball. Kaz Mastui K’s looking, Jordan Zimmermann strikes out the side. 

Wil Nieves gets one by Hunter Pence in right for a leadoff double. Jordan Zimmermann fails on a bunt attempt. Nyjer Morgan grounds out to third, Blum bobbles it but makes the play. Nick Johnson rolls the third out into Miguel Tejada’s glove at short...Brian Moehler flies out to Nyjer Morgan in short center. Michael Bourn grounds back to the mound, Zimmermann stabs it. Miguel Tejada grounds out to short, Gonzalez guns him...

Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to short. Adam Dunn pops out in foul territory off first. Josh Willingham flies to the track in right to Hunter Pence, who closes his glove on the top of the fourth...Lance Berkman walks for the second time. Carlos Lee lifts one to deeep center and off the wall, below the yellow line, No HR, Berkman tries for home and is so out he doesn’t bother, Nieves makes the tag, El Caballo safe at second. Geoff Blum flies to left, Adam Dunn waits for it. Hunter Pence grounds out to third, 1-0 Houston. 

Alberto Gonzalez starts the fifth with a line drive single to left. Anderson Hernandez hits a broken bat blooper to second, Matsui fields it, steps on second and fires to first, in time!! Well played, Matsui. Wil Nieves beats out a slow roller to third. Jordan Zimmerman keeps the inning alive with a line drive to right. Nyjer Morgan grounds to second, Tejada tosses to Matsui...Pudge can’t catch up to Zimmermann’s heat. Kaz Matsui drops a perfect bunt in front of home and beats Nieves’ throw to first. Brian Moehler gets down the sac bunt. Michael Bourn gets 92 mph heat inside and he K’s swinging to end the fifth.

Nick Johnson hits a trademark double to left center and off the fence/wall. NJ™. Zimmerman gets robbed on a one-hop liner to Geoff Blum, who sends a one-hop throw to first that Berkman handles. Brian Moehler walks Adam Dunn to put two on for the Hammer. Willingham walks to load the bases with one down. Alberto Gonzalez pops out behind second. Anderson Hernandez grounds out to first, Moehler covers, 1-0 Houston after five and a half...Alberto Gonzalez makes a backhand play in the hole and fires to first in time to get Tejada. Lance Berkman grounds back to the mound. Carlos Lee pops up the first pitch he sees. 

Wil Nieves singles to start the DC seventh. Jordan Zimmermann gets down a successful sac bunt and Brian Moehler’s done. Alberto Arias on his way to the mound. Nyjer Morgan drops a line drive single in front of a diving Carlos Lee in left. Stolen base for Morgan to erase the DP chance. Nick Johnson walks to load the bases. Ryan Zimmerman pops a 1-2 pitch up foul of first. Berkman makes the catch. Adam Dunn works the count full and grounds into the dramatic shift to end the inning and the threat...Geoff Blum’s hit by a bender that bounces in the dirt. Hunter Pence singles over second. Pudge Rodriguez tries twice to get down a bunt, and ends up K’ing trying to hold up on a sinking change. Zimmermann leaves a fastball up and Kaz Matsui hits a liner just over the wall and GONE! 4-0 Astros. Joe Beimel replaces Zimmermann. Beimel gets Bourn swinging. Miguel Tejada grounds to short to end the seventh. 

Josh Willingham leads off the eighth with a single to center. Alberto Gonzalez flies out to center. Anderson Hernandez chases a two-strike slider out of the zone. Wil Nieves hits a low liner for a one-out single. The Guz flies out to Lee in left...Tyler Clippard walks Lance Berkman to start the eighth. Dunn lets a double from El Caballo drop in fair. Geoff Blum pops out to center. Hunter Pence gets the intentionals, well almost, Clippard catches a spike and falls, balking in a run as he stumbles. 5-0 Astros. Carlos Lee stays at third on a fly ball out from Hunter Pence. Pudge Rodriguez grounds out to short. 

Nyjer Morgan leads off the ninth with a fly ball out to Carlos Lee. Nick Johnson hits a trademark single to right for a one-out hit. NJ™ Ryan Zimmerman grounds into a force at second. Two down. Adam Dunn K’s chasing to bring the first half of the ‘09 campaign to an end. Astros win, 5-0. 

Nationals now 26-61.